“Who inspires you?” That was a question that I had to answer recently. It was quite a difficult one to answer, as there are many people who inspire me in different ways. When I was a child, the person who inspired me to want to preach and celebrate communion was our parish priest, Father Puttman. Over the years, I have been inspired by amazing leaders within MCC, including our Founder, Troy Perry, our Moderator, Nancy Wilson, and Elders such as Don Eastman, Arlene Ackerman, Darlene Garner and Lillie Brock.

In church every Sunday, I am inspired by so many people in our congregation at MCC Newcastle, who are faithful, committed and amazingly talented. Yet, my experience is that if I tell any of you how inspiring you are, most respond with a rather embarrassed British shrug. As part of our series on the Psalms “Honest to God”, we recently read together the response “I am fearfully and wonderfully made” from Psalm 139. Charlotte, our preacher reminded us of how difficult we often find it to accept this, even though as a church, one of our core values is “We value the fabulous and beautiful in each of us”.

From 21st September to 23rd December, there is a portrait exhibition at the Hatton Gallery, which is part of Newcastle University. The exhibition celebrates the lives of women associated with the North East who have made a difference. “Inspirational Women of the North East” (www.iwne.org) includes historical figures, such as suffragette Emily Dickinson and famous names, such as Mo Mowlam and Catherine Cookson. Alongside these amazing icons, there are women who are alive today, and just doing what they do. I am deeply humbled and actually very chuffed to find that I have been included in this exhibition. If you go on the website, you can nominate other women, who are an inspiration to you and there is also a photography exhibition to enter.

God does not call us to be anyone other than who God created us to be. Then all God asks is that we live our life to its fullest. That does not mean it will be pain-free life, or an easy life always. However, it does mean that we are open to all that God has for us and wants us to be. Being fully ourselves, at home, in work, with family and friends, means that we will inspire others, because each of us is “fabulous and beautiful, fearfully and wonderfully made”. Perhaps you could tell someone this week that they inspire you.